PlayTime bets on esports to capture next-gen audience

PlayTime Entertainment is stepping up its push into esports, assembling a competitive Dota 2 esports team, one of the world’s most widely followed competitive video games, as it expands beyond its core gaming business to capture a younger, digital-first audience.

This is part of its shift toward building a broader entertainment platform, using esports as a gateway to new revenue streams and stronger brand engagement.

Through PT Sports, the company unveiled a lineup blending veteran Filipino stars and emerging international talent, positioning itself in the fast-growing regional esports scene.

The lineup brings together Carlo “Kuku” Palad, Polo “Raven” Fausto, and Djardel Jicko “DJ” Mampusti—veteran players with global experience—alongside rising Filipino talent Eljohn “Akashi” Andales and Jeanpierre “Pipi” Valente Arroyo, a young competitor from Peru entering the international scene.

The strategy taps esports’ ability to generate continuous content, sponsorship opportunities, and global visibility.

“By investing in competitive gaming and developing teams capable of performing on the global stage, PT Sports aims to contribute to the growth of various sports categories in the Philippines – with esports as one of its main highlights, while reinforcing PlayTime Entertainment’s position within the evolving entertainment ecosystem,” the company said in a statement. 

—Edited by Miguel R. Camus